While not admitting to the slaying or an Oct. 22 arson at a city of Seattle maintenance yard in which he is also accused, Monfort -- paralyzed from the waist down due to a gunshot received during his arrest -- began loudly deriding police shortly after being wheeled into the courtroom.

Monfort continued, in essence claiming that a person who attacked police would be acting in self-defense. He then offered what seemed to be a veiled reference to an altercations between King County Sheriff's Deputy Paul Schene and a teen girl in a holding cell; prosecutors claim Monfort referenced the incident, in which Schene currently faces assault charges, in materials left at arson scene.

Monfort, 41, is accused of shooting both Seattle officers as they sat in a parked patrol car reviewing a traffic stop in the city's Leschi neighborhood. Brenton, Sweeney's training officer, was struck by multiple rounds fired from the .223 cal. rifle and died at the scene.

Prosecutors contend Monfort also damaged several police vehicles during an attack on the maintenance garage at 714 S. Charles Street. Monfort is alleged to have started a fire inside a RV-style mobile command center in an effort to draw firefighters to the scene before several incendiary devices detonated nearby.

Police tracked Monfort to his Tukwila home and moved to arrest him as Brenton's memorial service concluded. Prosecutors claim Monfort drew a pistol and attempted to shoot the arresting officers before being shot himself.

At issue Friday was a public records request filed by The Seattle Times seeking the release of the entire investigatory filed. After weeks of discussion, Kessler ordered that most of the 1700-page file, portions of which are already public, be released.

Contrary to requests from prosecutors and Monfort's attorneys, Kessler ruled that some of the 188 pages of writings seized from Monfort are subject to public disclosure. Kessler found that, while some of the writings were protected on First and Sixth Amendment grounds, a portion are not and must, therefore, be released.

Monfort's attorneys received a 25-day stay before the documents must be disclosed. They have said they intend to ask the state Court of Appeals to review Kessler's decision.

Defense attorney Julie Lawry also asked that Kessler extend the trial deadline at least to Dec. 1, in part, she said, because the defense requires additional time before a decision is made by King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg on whether to seek a death sentence in the case.

The crime with which Monfort is charged, aggravated first-degree murder, carries only two sentences under state law -- life in prison without parole, or death.

State law requires that the prosecution review mitigating evidence -- in most cases, related to a defendant's mental health -- prior to deciding whether to ask a jury to impose a death sentence. Lawry contended in court that Satterberg has been unwilling to extend the deadline for such a decision in Monfort's case, which is currently set for mid-June.

Charged with three counts of attempted first-degree murder and first-degree arson as well as aggravated murder, Monfort remains in King County Jail. He is expected to return to court in late May.